Each day of the WNBA season, our team of fantasy and betting experts breaks down every game on the slate, making note of everything from injuries and lineup changes to recent trends and more.
Here’s what to look for during today’s slate:
6 p.m. ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Line: Sparks (-6.5)
Money line: Sparks (-280), Fever (+225)
Total: 175.5
Out: Katie Lou Samuelson (not with team), Kristi Tolliver (not with team), Alaina Coates (not with team), Danielle Robinson (not with team), Bria Hartley (not with team).
Fantasy Need to Know: With a satisfying road win over the Chicago Sky, the Sparks nearly reached the century mark in points in their season opener. With five players reaching double figures, Los Angeles got 21 points and eight assists from Jordin Canada. As for Liz Cambage, she overcame a slow start to score 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points. Chennedy Carter and Lexie Brown combined for 24 points for the Sparks. In terms of fantasy options, Cabbage, Ogwumike, Canada, Carter and Lexie Brown stand out as the most trustworthy. — Eric Moody
After losing to the Washington Mystics, Indiana began yet another rebuilding season. Despite starting three rookies and using two more from the bench, the Fever got 18 points from veteran Kelsey Mitchell. One of the three rookies who started, NaLyssa Smith, scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and didn’t seem out of place. Queen Egbo, the No. 10 overall pick, added 10 points and six rebounds. In total, the Fever made only 41.7% of their field goal attempts and only five of 22 3-pointers, negating an advantage of 42-31 in rebounding. It is hard to trust any player from this team besides Mitchell and Smith from a fantasy perspective. Add Victoria Vivians to your watch list. Only Mitchell (37) and Smith (35) played more minutes in the season opener. — Moody
Best Bet: Sparks -5.5
This offseason, the Sparks made some changes and looked good in their first game. The Fever are a much improved team from last year, but they still have a long way to go. This game should be won easily by the Sparks due to their balanced offensive attack. Los Angeles will cover. — Moody
Washington Mystics at Minnesota Lynx
8 p.m. ET, Target Center, Minneapolis.
Line: Lynx (-3.5)
Money line: Mystics (+140), Lynx (-170)
Total: 160
Out: Elizabeth Williams (not with team), Alysha Clark (foot), Kayla McBride (not with team), Napheesa Collier (personal).
Fantasy Need to Know: On Friday night, the Minnesota Lynx lost to the Seattle Storm, 97-74. Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points, while teammate Aerial Powers contributed 14 points. Unfortunately, just four of those points came in the second half. Minnesota will still be without Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, with Angel McCoughtry a game-time decision for tonight’s matchup. Fowles and Powers will remain your best fantasy options for the Lynx.
In their season opener, Washington defeated the Indiana Fever 84-70. Elena Delle Donne scored 21 points for the Mystics, while Natasha Cloud had 17 points, four rebounds, and six assists. The previous two seasons, Delle Donne only played three games due to COVID-19 concerns and back issues. She is expected to rest on Sunday. Myisha Hines-Allen stands to benefit immediately from Delle Donne’s absence, especially with Tianna Hawkins likely to be absent for personal reasons. Fantasy managers can also rely on Ariel Atkins and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough against the Mystics due to their ample playing time in the season opener. — Moody
Best Bet: Mystics +3.5
The Mystics have enough playmakers to cover the spread even without Delle Donna. Although the Lynx are a talented team, they are missing some key pieces at the moment. Minnesota didn’t have a lot of offensive success outside of Fowles and Powers, and that trend should continue tonight. — Moody
Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces
10 p.m. ET, Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada
Line: Aces (-5)
Money line: Storm (+180), Aces (-220)
Total: 176.5
Questionable: Mercedes Russell (undisclosed)
Fantasy Need to Know: The Aces started off the Becky Hammon era with a road win over the Phoenix Mercury. The 106 points Las Vegas scored were the most ever scored by a WNBA team in a season opener. Among the three Aces with 20 or more points, Dearica Hamby scored 24 by making 78.5% of her 14 field goal attempts. A’ja Wilson added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds while Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum each scored 20 points. The 1000th assist of Chelsea Gray‘s WNBA career capped off her night of 11 points and five assists. Overall, the Aces made 58.2% of their field goal attempts, and made 11 shots from beyond the arc, tying their record for triples since the team moved to the desert. Hamby, Wilson, Young, Plum and Gray will continue to be your top fantasy options.
The Storm also had an impressive win to open the season against the Lynx. Seattle outscored Minnesota 34-14 in the third quarter. As a result, no Seattle player played more than 26 minutes, and five scored in double figures, including Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd, who each scored 17 points. Stewart also had eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Sue Bird tallied 11 points and nine assists in just 22 minutes. The Storm’s top fantasy options are Stewart, Loyd, and Bird. In the wake of this game, we may be able to gain more insight into Seattle’s rotation. — Moody
Best Bet: Under 175.5 points
A tendency to give too much weight to recent events is known as the recency bias. When both teams have gone over the total in their previous games, betting the under is profitable in the WNBA. The Aces (89.3) and Storm (84.8) ranked first and second in points scored per game last season, but the scoring might not be as high as many anticipate tonight. — Moody